Sunapee police, fire teams train for active shooter response, unified command

A simulated active threat in Sunapee would not leave police, fire and EMS to improvise. On the evening of Tuesday, April 28, the Sunapee Fire Department and Sunapee Police Department trained together on active shooter response, Tactical Rescue Team operations and Unified Command, the structure meant to keep multiple agencies moving in the same direction when seconds matter.

The practical question behind the drill was simple: if an armed incident or other high-threat emergency broke out in town, how quickly could responders secure the scene, sort out responsibilities and get medical help where it was needed? The training focused on the warm zone, the area under police protection where fire and EMS crews can move in before an incident is fully over to treat patients and remove them more quickly. In a real case, that could mean a victim reaching care minutes sooner while officers continue to contain the threat.

Sunapee Police Sgt. Nicholas Boisvert helped coordinate the exercise and led a presentation for Sunapee Fire Department and Newbury Fire Rescue members. According to the police department, Boisvert gave a high-level overview of how law enforcement works with fire and EMS in a multi-agency active threat situation, with an emphasis on coordination, communication and scene management. Those are the handoffs that often determine whether responders waste time or move with a clear chain of command.

Unified Command was another core piece of the session. When multiple departments arrive at the same emergency, that structure is meant to reduce conflicting instructions and make better use of people, equipment and vehicles. The Sunapee Fire Department says its mission includes strong regional partnerships, and Newbury Fire Rescue’s participation showed that the town is treating mutual aid as part of daily readiness, not just a backup plan after something goes wrong.

The town posted the training release on April 29, and the exercise fit into a broader pattern. On April 1, Sunapee recognized lifesaving dispatch work at the Sunapee Safety Services Building in an event that brought together Sunapee, Newbury and New London public-safety agencies. The town also held a larger active shooter and high-risk drill on March 26, 2024, when Sunapee Fire and Sunapee Police worked alongside Newbury Fire, New London Fire, New Hampshire Marine Patrol and multiple apparatus units to identify high-risk places in town and run building-movement evolutions. Taken together, the drills show a small town building a regional response network before a crisis tests it.